Shipping & Duties
Honest pricing, premium carriers, no surprises at delivery.
We ship worldwide from our shop in Edmonton, Alberta. When you order from outside Canada, your country's customs office will assess import duty and tax on the items in your order. We believe you should know what that costs before you pay, not when the carrier knocks on your door.
Here's how it works on our store and what to expect.
When you check out with a delivery address outside Canada, you will see the product price, your chosen shipping method, and an estimated duty & import tax line for your destination country. The total at the bottom is your full landed cost.
Duty estimates are calculated from each item's Harmonized System code and your destination's tariff schedule. Actual duty charged at the border is usually within a few percent of the estimate.
Who carries your order
DHL Express International is our primary international carrier. Brokerage is bundled into the rate, so you will not see a separate brokerage invoice on delivery. Transit is two to four business days for most destinations.
Canada Post Xpresspost is offered as a budget option for non-fragrance orders. Slower (five to ten business days) and less tracked, but lower cost. Canada Post hands your order to your local postal service at the border.
Orders containing fragrance must ship via DHL Express due to international air transport regulations. The Canada Post option is not available for these orders.
How duty actually works
Every country charges import duty differently. Most calculate it as a percent of your order value plus shipping, then add a separate import tax (GST, VAT, sales tax). The exact rate depends on the item, the material, and where it was made.
We declare full and honest customs values on every shipment. We do not under-declare to save you money. The estimate you see at checkout is what we expect your country's customs to charge, and DHL Express collects that on your behalf when your parcel clears the border.
Trade policy has been moving quickly since 2025, especially on US-bound shipments. Our estimate reflects the tariff and duty rates in effect on the day you place your order. If those rates change before your parcel clears customs, the final charge may differ from what we showed you. Where a change is announced with lead time, we will flag affected orders and reach out. Changes governments make after an order is placed are outside our control and not something we can absorb, but we will always help you understand what you are being asked to pay.
During periods of unusual trade-policy movement, our displayed estimate may sit at the higher end of a reasonable range to reduce the risk of a surprise at your door. Your final duty and tax are set by your country's customs office when your parcel clears the border.
If the actual charge comes in higher than our estimate on anything other than a tariff-policy change, contact us. We will work with you to make it right.
Many of our brands ship duty-free under USMCA
Goods made in Canada, the United States, or Mexico generally qualify for duty-free treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. That includes a number of brands we carry.
Brands that typically qualify:
Alden (USA), Wythe (USA), Dehen 1920 (USA), J. Mueser (USA), AG Jeans (USA), DS & Durga (USA), CBCB Fragrances (USA), Empire Clothing (Canada), Giorgio Fiorelli (Canada), Dion Neckwear (Canada), PYA (Canada), Bugatchi (Canada).
Browse all North American-made pieces.
Expected delivery
Customs clearance can add one to three business days, especially during holiday periods. We hand off shipments same-day for orders placed before 2pm Mountain Time on weekdays.
Returns from outside Canada
We accept returns on unworn, tagged items within 30 days of delivery. International customers cover return shipping unless the item arrived defective or was incorrectly fulfilled. Email menswear@mrderk.com before sending anything back so we can confirm the return address and process.
Duty and tax paid at delivery are refundable directly from your country's customs office. We can provide the documentation you need to file for that refund.
FAQ
Why am I paying duty when I never had to before?
In 2025 the United States ended the $800 de minimis exemption that previously let small commercial imports clear duty-free. Every US-bound order now incurs duty regardless of value. Other countries have their own de minimis thresholds (the UK and EU are €150, Australia is AU$1,000) and we calculate based on each country's rules.
What if I'm charged more at the door than the estimate?
Contact us and we'll work with you on it. Estimates are usually within a few percent of actual, but two things can shift them: customs may reclassify an item at the border, and tariff rates sometimes change between your order and delivery. We help where we can. For duty changes made by governments after your order is placed, we can't cover the difference, but we'll always help you understand the invoice.
Can you mark my order as a gift?
No. We declare full commercial value on all shipments. Marking a commercial order as a gift is customs fraud and creates real risk for you (fines, seizure, future shipment delays) and for us (importer-of-record flag). We respect you and the law too much to do that.
Do you ship to PO boxes or APO/FPO addresses?
DHL Express requires a physical street address. For PO boxes or military addresses, choose Canada Post at checkout (or contact us to arrange).
What if my country requires a tax ID for customs clearance?
Some countries (Brazil, India, South Korea, others) require the recipient's tax ID number to clear customs. Include it in the order notes at checkout or email us right after ordering. Without it, DHL may hold the shipment and ask you directly.
What about a phone consult or fitting before I order?
Happy to. Book a personal wardrobe consult with Sterling. We can talk fit, brand, fabric, and which pieces will travel well across borders.
Email us before you order, anytime.
Sizing, fit, duty estimates, shipping options. We'll write back same day.
menswear@mrderk.comOr call us at 780-431-4293 (Edmonton time)